Device for releasing fluid from a container



March 5 1935. Q N WELL 3,993,639

DEVICE FOR RELEASING FLUID FROM A CONTAINER Original Fiied Jan. 17, 1931I I l IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEY.

. Patented Mar. '5, 1935 DEVICE FOR RELEA SING FLUID FROM A CONTAINEROzro N. Wiswell, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to C-O-Two Fire EquipmentCompany, Newark, N. J a corporation of Delaware Original applicationJanuary 17, 1931, Serial No.

-- 509,453. Divided and this application 30, 1933, Serial No. 687,480

s Claims.

The present application is a division of my copending application Ser.No. 509,453 flled January 17, 1931.

The invention relates to a device for releasing 5 fluid from acontainer, and relates more particularly to a device for puncturing apenetrable closure disc of a container carrying fluid under pressure.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a device forpuncturing a closure disc that embodies a simple, effective, andconvenient operating means.

The present invention is concerned primarily with a means for operatinga head or device for puncturing a frangible closure disc. The inventionis capable of embodiment in forms for use on or in connection withvarious types of devices or fixtures for puncturing closure discs.Throughout the following detailed disclosure, the

' invention will be described in combination with a closure discpuncturing device of the general character fully described and claimedin the copending application of Scott E. Allen and Ozro N. Wiswell, Ser.No. 349,150, filed March 22, 1929,

entitled Non-stalling self-energizing head for puncturing closure discs.

Carbon dioxide and other fire extinguishing mediums are commonlycontained under pressure in flasks or cylinders. In fire extinguishingsysterns involving the use of carbon dioxide, the fluid containingcylinders are provided with penetrable closure discs and heads forpuncturing the discs to release the gas or fluid from the cylinders. Theclosure discs are arranged in openings in the upper ends of thecylinders and the heads for puncturing the discs are mounted on theupper ends of the cylinders. Closure disc puncturing devices of thegeneral character described in the co-pending application referred toabove embody operating stems adapted to be manually or mechanicallydepressed to cause puncturing of the discs and the release of the fireextinguishing fluid. The fluid containing cylinders are arranged orplaced in suitable locations in the compartments or rooms to beprotected against fire. In ships and like situations where space islimited, it is particularly advantageous to place the cylinders inpositions where they do not occupy storage space or obstruct passages,etc. It sometimes occurs that the fluid containing cylinders are locatedin confined and inconvenient places where it is extremely diflicult tomanually depress the operating stems or to provide for the mechanicaldepression of the operating stems to release the fire extinguishingmedium.

August It is an object of the present invention to provide a device orhead for puncturing the penetrable closure disc of a fluid containingcylinder that is particularly easy and convenient to operate and thatmay be adjusted or set to be operable by either vertical or horizontalpressure.

It isanother object of the invention to provide a head for puncturing afrangible closure disc of a fluid containing cylinder that involves acombination of elements whereby the closure' disc may be punctured byfluid pressure means, by electrically actuated means, or by ameans'operable mechanically or manually by horizontal or verticalactuation.

It is another object of the invention to provide an attachment for aclosure disc puncturing head of the general character as described inthe above mentioned copending application Ser. No. 349,150 that embodiesan operating lever or handle that may be mounted or set to be operatedby a horizontal pressure in either direction, or that may be set inpositions at either side of the head to be operated by verticalpressure.

It is another object of the invention to provide an attachment of thecharacter mentioned in which the operating handle or lever may beoperated manually or operated from a remote point by means of anoperating cable, or the like.

It is another object of the invention to provide an attachment of thecharacter mentioned for use on a head for releasing fluid from a.cylinder that may be easily and quickly mounted directly on heads of thegeneral character referred to 'without modifications or additionalparts.

It is another object of the invention to provide an attachment of thecharacter mentioned for operating a closure disc puncturing device thatis particularly simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and that isdependable and positive in operation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a fixture or attachmentfor operating a head for puncturing a closure disc in which theoperating handle or lever may be readily set in substantially horizontalpositions 'on either side of the head for vertical movement or actuationto operate the head, or may be set in a vertical position for horizontaloperation in either direction. The operating handle or lever may be setin the desired position by the removal and replacing of a single pin orbolt.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an attachment foroperating a closure puncturing head that includes a cam operable uponpartial rotation to depress the stem of the head and a handle or leverthat may be set or positioned *to project from the cam in any desireddirection.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear in the followingdescription of an embodiment thereof and thereafter the novelty andscope of the invention will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, V

Fig. 1 is a view, largely in vertical section, 01 a cylinder valvemounted on a typical fluid containing cylinder with my improved devicefor puncturing a closure disk mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section, taken substantially on the line2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a detail view in section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

The appliances or attachments provided by this invention are intendedfor use on heads for puncturing the closure discs of cylinders or flaskscarrying fluid under pressure and, more particularly, on heads involvingoperating stems adapted to be depressed to cause puncturing of theclosure discs. It is to be understood that the invention is capable ofembodiment in forms for use on fixtures and heads varying somewhat incharacter, and that the invention is not to be considered as restrictedto the particular forms and applications about to be described. Theapparatus or mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawingincludes, generally, a cylinder valve or fitting 10 mounted on a typicalflask or cylinder 11 for carrying fluid under pressure; a head 12mounted on the fitting or valve 10 and including a cutter 13 forpuncturing a closure disc 14a to release fluid from the cylinders 11,means 14 operable by fluid under pressure to actuate the cutter 13, andmanual means 15 for actuating the cutter 13; and an attachment 16mounted on the head 12 and operable mechanically or manually to actuatethe manual means 15 of the head.

The cylinder valve 10 is shown as mounted on a typical container orcylinder 11 which carries a fluid under pressure. The fitting 10comprises a vertically disposed body 1'? having a threaded stem which isscrewed into the neck of the container 11. The fitting has alongitudinal bore therein for the discharge of the fluid. However, theupper end of this bore is normally closed by a disk 14a which isretained in position by a tubular nut 22 threaded into the upper end 01the fitting.

The head 12 is mounted on the upper end of the fitting or valve 10 andis in the nature of a device for puncturing the disc 14a to release thefire extinguishing medium from the container 11. The head 12 includes abody seated on the upper end of the fitting body 1'7. The body 30 of thehead is an elongated vertically disposed member and is attached to thevalve body 1'? by means of a union or coupling member 31 threaded on theenlarged upper end of the body 17. The member 31 has a reduced upper endto co-operate with a shoulder 32 on the body 30 to clamp the body of thehead onto the fitting 10. A chamber 33 extends upwardly in the body 30from its lower end.

The cutter 13 is operable by the means 14 or the means 15 to perforatethe disc14a to release the fluid from the container 11. The cutter 13 iscarried by the fluid pressure actuated means 14, as will be hereinafterdescribed. In the particular type of head illustrated in the drawing.the

cutter 13 is an elongated tubular member and is vertically disposedwithin the chamber 33. The lower end part oi! the cutter 13 may extendinto the opening 34 in the nut 22. The cutter 13 slidably flts theopening 34 and its lower end is normally disposed some distance abovethe disc 14a. The lower end of the cutter 13 is inclined and formed witha sharpened cutting edge to eflectively perforate the disc 14a.

The fluid pressure actuated means 14 for operating the cutter 13 is inthe nature of a cylinder and piston means and includes a piston 35,slidablein the cylinder opening of the chamber 33. The piston 35 carriesthe cutter 13. The cutter 13 may be provided at its upper end with anenlarged portion screw-threaded into the lower end of an opening 36 inthe piston. The piston 35 is provided with a reduced upper end part 3'7and the opening 36 extends upwardly through the piston and terminateswithin the reduced part 37. Lateral ports 38 extendv outwardly from theopening 36 to discharge into the upper end of the cylinder opening 33. Aball check valve 39 is arranged in the opening 36 to co-operate with aseat formed around the upper end of the passage in the cutter 13 toprevent the downward passage of fluid through the cutter.

Two or more conduits 40 may communicate with or discharge into the upperend portion of the cylinder opening 33. One 01' the conduits 40 may beconsidered as discharging into a manifold for carrying the fireextinguishing medium to the point of discharge, while the other conduit40 may be considered as being connected with the chamber 01' a headarranged on a fluid containing cylinder or as extending to any othersuitable source of fluid pressure supply. It is to be understood thatthe head 12 may be connected with a discharge manifold and/ or withother discharge heads in any suitable manner. Fluid pressure dischargedinto the upper end of the cylinder opening 33 is operable to depress thepiston 35 and force the cutter through the disc 14a. Vent openings 41are provided in the body 30 to communicate with the lower end part ofthe chamber 33 to permit the discharge of fluid trapped in the chamberduring downward movement of the piston.

In Fig. 2, I have illustrated an electrically actuated device 42operable to generate fluid under pressure within the upper portion ofthechamber 33 to actuate the cutter 13. The device 42' may be anelectrically actuated device of the character set forth and claimed inthe co-pending application, Ser. No. 448,673. The plug or device 42 maybe threaded into an opening in the upper end of the body 30 to dischargeinto the upper end of the cylinder opening 33. The device 42 contains ahighly inflammable or explosive material adapted to be ignited upon theenergization of an electric circuit. Upon igniting of the explosive inthe device 42, a high pressure is developed within the upper end of thecylinder 33 which actuates the piston 35 downwardly.

The manual means 15 for actuating the cutter 13 includes a stem 44aprojecting upwardly from the reduced upper end part 37 of the piston.The stem 44a extends through an opening 45 in the upper end of the body30 to project upwardly from the upper end of the head 12. A suitableknob 46a is mounted on the upper end of the stem 44a. The operatfng knob46a may have a rounded upper end and flattened sides. A helical spring47a is arranged under compression between the upper end of the body 30and the knob 1,998,689 exerted horizontally in either direction on the464 to normally yleldingly retain the stem 44o,- the piston 35, and thecutter 13 in the up or unactuated position.

The attachment 16 is adapted to be mounted on the upper end of the head12a and is provided primarily to permit the ready actuation of the stem44 by manual or mechanical means. The attachment 16 is in the nature ofa cam means for depressing the stem 44a to actuate the cutter 13 andrelease the fluid from the container 11. The attachment comprises a bodyor bracket 50a, a cam 70 journalled in the bracket and operable todepress the stem 44a, and an operating handle or lever 71 for the cam.

The lower portion of the bracket or body 5011 is preferably tubular andis screw-threaded upon the annular projection 530 at the upper end ofthe head 12. Spaced yoke parts 72 are provided upon the upper end of thebody 500. The opening '73 between the parts '72 extends downwardly intothe tubular portion of the bracket 50a.

The cam 70 is pivotally mounted between the parts 72 on a removable bolt74 extending transversely between the yoke parts. The bolt 74 may beretained in position by a nut '15. The lower end of the cam 70 isprovided with two curved cam faces 76 for engaging the upper end of theknob 46a. The cam faces 76 are curved downwardly and outwardly inopposite directions from a point below the axis of movement of the cam.The curvature of the two faces '76 may be alike. The upper portion ofthe cam '70 is segmental, as the cam has an upper edge curvedcontinuously between the outer ends of the two cam faces '16. The upperedge of the cam '10 is curved about the pivotal axis of the cam. The cam'70 may be bifurcated, being provided with a central vertical opening orslot 80.

The operating means or handle "71 is adapted to be connected with thecam '70 to project outwardly therefrom at any one of a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced points. The inner end of the handle 71 extendsinto the opening 80 and the bolt '74 passes through an opening 81 in thehandle. This form of the invention provides means for the locating orsetting of the handle 71 in any one of a plurality of differentpositions. The means for setting the handle '71 in various rotativepositions relative to the cam 70 includes a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced notches 82 in the curved upper edge of the cam70. There may be any suitable number of notches 82 and the notches maybe equally spaced apart. wardly projecting lugs 85 are provided attheopposite side edges of the handle 71. The lugs 85 are adapted to extendinto or co-operate with two of the spaced notches 82. The lever orhandle '71 may be of any suitable length and may be provided at itsouter end with an opening for receiving an operating cable 86.-

To fix the lever '71 in the desired angular position with respect to thecam 70', the bolt '74. is removed and the handle moved to the desiredposition where its two lugs 85 extend into two of the notches 82. Thebolt '74 may then be replaced to connect the lever with the cam. It willbe apparent that the handle or lever 71 may be set to project in anydesired direction from the upper end of the head 12a and may be easilyand quickly operated to actuate the head. The cable 86 may extend to anyremote point and may be operated in any manner to actuate the head.

With the arm or lever 71 in the full line position shown in Fig. 1, thecable 86 may extend in either direction therefrom, because a forcearm'71 will actuate the device to puncture the disc 14a by reason of thetwo cam faces 76. If there is insufllcient head room the arm may be setat an angle to one side or other of the vertical, as shown in brokenlines in Fig. 1. The device may then be actuated by a horizontal pulltoward the vertical axis or even by a vertical pull. Obviously, if thedevice is to be operated by a vertical pull, it will be preferable tohave the arm extend horizontally from the cam.- Hence, I prefer toprovide an angular range of adjustment of the arm on the cam of 180degrees or 90 degrees each side of the vertical axis.

While I have described a specific embodiment of my invention, I wish itto be understood that this is to be taken as illustrative and notlimitative, and that I reserve the right to make any changes in form,construction or arrangement of parts that fall within the spirit andscope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An operating device for a container control head having an operatingstem which includes a cam for operating the stem, anoperating lever forthe cam, and means whereby the lever may be connected with the cam toproject in different directions therefrom, said means including aremovable member arranged in openings in the cam and lever, andco-operating lugs and notches on the cam and lever.

2. An operating device for a container control head having an operatingstem which includes a body adapted to be detachably mounted on the head,a cam for operating the stem, a lever for the cam, and means'whereby thelever may be connected with the cam to project therefrom at any one of aplurality of spaced points including, a removable pin pivotally mountingthe cam on the body and passing through an opening in the lever.

3. An operating device for a container control head having an operatingstem which includes, a body adapted to be detachably mounted on thehead, a cam for operating the stem, a lever for the cam, and meanswhereby the lever may be connected with the cam to project therefrom atany one of a plurality of spaced points including, a removable pinpivotally mounting the cam on the body and passing through an opening inthe lever, and notches on the lever and cam.

4. An operating device for a container control head having an operatingstem which includes a body adapted to be detachably mounted on the head,two members, one a cam for operating the stem, the other an operatinglever for the cam, means for pivotally mounting the cam on the body, andmeans for connecting the lever with the cam to project in variousdirections therefrom including, a removable pin passing through theopenings, a lug on one member to co-operate with any one of a pluralityof spaced notches in the other member.

5. An operating device for a container control head having an operatingstem, which includes a body adapted to be detachably mounted on a head,a cam journalled on the body and operable to actuate the stem upon beingturned in either direction, an operating lever for the cam, and meansfor securing the lever to the cam in any one of a plurality of angularlyspaced operating positions. 1

6. An operating device for a container control head having an operatingstem, which includes to actuate the stem upon being turned in eitherdirection, an operating arm for the cam, and

means for securing the arm to the cam in either of two diametricallyopposite positions whereby the cam may be operated from either sidethereof.

7. An operating device for a container control head having an operatingstem, which includes a body adapted to be detachably mounted on thehead, a cam Journalled on the body and operable to actuate the stem uponbeing turned in either direction, an operating arm for the cam and meansfor securing the arm in various angularly spaced positions rangingthrough an angle of approximately 180 and between and including twoopposed horizontal positions, whereby the cam my be operated by theapplication 0! Vertical forces on either side of the cam or theoperation of horizontal forces from either side or the arm.

8. An operating device for a container control head having an operatingstem, which includes afcam pivotally mounted inthe head and operativelyengaging the stem, a lever formed with an eye at one end, the cammounting including a pivot member for the cam passing through the eye,the cam being formed with a plurality of recesses, and 9. lug fixed onthe lever and adapted to enter a selected one of said recesses to securethe lever at a selected angle with respect to the cam.

OZRO N. WISWELL.

